People with metabolic syndrome -- a cluster of conditions that can include problems with weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar control -- are much more likely to die from heart disease and other causes than those without the syndrome, new research shows.

In fact, researcher Dr. Nathan D. Wong, from the University of California, Irvine, told Reuters Health that "given the multiple risk factor burden associated with the metabolic syndrome, we are not surprised it remains associated with a significantly greater risk of death."

The findings, which appear in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation, are based on a study of 6255 subjects who were followed for an average of 13 years.

Twenty-six percent of subjects met the definition for metabolic syndrome and 20 percent had had pre-existing heart disease or stroke.

Metabolic syndrome raised the risk of death from heart disease by up to fourfold. Similarly, the syndrome nearly doubled the risk of death from any cause. Even subjects who met some but not all of the criteria for metabolic syndrome were at increased risk for death from heart disease, the authors note.

In a statement, Wong recommended that "physicians provide adequate resources for their patients with metabolic syndrome to improve compliance to diet and exercise regimens."

"Many physicians," he added, "who may not have the time to counsel a patient for an hour on diet or exercise do not refer to a registered dietician or exercise specialist when they should."

SOURCE: Circulation, August 24th rapid access issue, 2004.

Reference Source 89
August 26, 2004

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